Tensioning means for loom warp beams



1957 R. M. TAYLOR TENSIONING MEANS FOR LOOM WARP BEAMS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 4-, 1954 um um Llllllnl "lfi' v mum lllmm 3 n 7', f 4

\ lllllullllllllllllllllllllllllflllifi Ray Taylor INVENTOR. lei fla Attorney:

Jan. 15, 1957 R. M. TAYLOR 2,777,469

TENSIONING MEANS FOR LOOM WARP BEAMS Filed Jan. 4, 1954 s Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 2

Ray M. Taylor INVENTOR.

w xsymq Jan. 15, 1957 R. M. TAYLQR TE INSIONING MEANS FOR LOOM WARP BEAMS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 4 1954 Ray M. Taylor INVENTOR. 05k.

BY and United States Patent 2,777,469 TENSIONING MEANS FOR LOOM WARP BEAMS Ray M. Taylor, Quakertown, Pa.

Application January 4, 1954, Serial No. 401,834

5 Claims. (Cl. 139-109) This invention comprises novel and useful improvements in a tensioning means for loom warp beams and more specifically relates to a friction brake tensioning mechanism for the warp beam of a loom.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a tensioning means for loom warp beams which shall maintain a constant tension upon the warp ends throughout the entire operating cycle of the loom and throughout the entire weaving of a fabric.

In general, it is the purpose of this invention to vastly improve the operation of a loom by substantially entirely eliminating breakage of the warp ends from chafing and wear in the heddles or by applying excessive tension thereto; by reducing wear upon the tensioning device; by very greatly reducing shut-downs of the loom for repairs; by eliminating defects in the woven fabric occasioned by lubrication of the tension device; and by entirely eliminating barres and marks in the fabric arising from starting or resuming a weaving operation with the warp ends stretched or under heavy or varying tension.

An important object of the invention is to'provide a tensioning means in accordance with the preceding object which shall apply a uniform frictional pressure over substantially the entire surface of the warp beam head.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a tensioning mechanism in accordance with the preceding objects wherein a friction brake applied to the head of a warp beam will be automatically released if greater than a predetermined tension is applied to the warp ends during operation of the loom to thereby prevent over-tensioning of the warp ends.

A still further important object of the invention is to provide a tensioning mechanism which will maintain a uniform tension upon the warp threads regardless of whether the warp beam is substantiallyfull or substantially empty of the warp threads.

Another important object of the inventionis to provide a tensioning mechanism for a warp beam wherein a uniform tension is maintained upon the warp ends during operation of the loom and wherein this tension is substantially entirely released when the loomstops.

Yet another very important object of the invention is to provide an automatic tensioning device for loom warp beams which shall be disposed in a most compact manner and closely adjacent the frame of a loom in the space within the outer confines of the loom and which has been heretofore unemployed forthis purpose.

An additional important object is to provide an automatic tensioning device for loom warp beams which shall be so associated with the loom as to occupy space at the side of the loom but within the outer end confines of the loom and shall leave clear the floor space in front of the loom warp beam heretofore occupied by the warp beam tensioning device; thereby greatly simplifying the removal and replacement of a warp beam.

Another object is to provide an automatic tensioning device for loom warp beams which shall substantially eliminate moving parts in a tension device, and will com- 2,7714% Patented Jan. 15, 1195? pletely eliminate gears and bearings whose necessary lubrication is a frequent source for soiling of the warp ends.

A further very important purpose is to provide a .ensioning device which will substantially eliminate the usual oscillation or rocking of the warp beam by conventional tension devices due to the oscillation or the shed; and will prevent chafing and breakage of the warp ends in the heddle during the shedding operation.

Yet another important object of the invention is to provide a tensioning mechanism for loom Warp beams which may be readily and easily attached to conventional looms in a very simple manner.

A further additional object of the invention is to provide a tensioning mechanism for loom warp beams which shall be so constructed as to be readily capable of adjustment to enable the tensioning device to be applied as an attachment to different types and sizes of looms.

. A final object to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a tensioning device having fewer parts, less moving parts, lower initial cost, a longer and more troublefree period of service and which may be more easily and less expensively replaced when desired.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of a portion of a loom showing the manner in which the warp tensioning device of this invention has been applied thereto;

Figure 2 is an end elevational View of a portion of the loom of Figure 1, being taken from the right end of Figure 1, and showing further details of the construction and manner of installation of the attachment to the warp beam of a loom;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary elevational view taiten substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 3-3 of Figure 2 and showing the right hand portion of the loom warp beam and the attachment of this invention applied thereto;

Figure 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken upon an enlarged scale substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 44 of Figure 3, and showing further details of the tensioning device of this invention including a friction brake applied to one of the warp beam heads of the loom and the brake actuating and adjusting mechanism of this invention applied thereto;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of an essential assembly forming apart of, the attachment of this invention; and

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional detail view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 6--6 of Figure 5 and showing an adjusting take-up element forming a part of this invention.

in Figure l of the accompanying drawings, there is illustrated a portion of a conventional form ofiloom, the type of loom illustrated being an apparatus commercially known as the Crompton & Knowles 8-6 loom. Although this type of loom has been illustrated, as being of a very well known conventional design, it will be understood that the attachment forming the subject of this invention and the principles of the invention are equally applicable to other known types of looms.

The loom illustrated includes the usual end frame member 10 from which extends a lateral frame member -12. As will be understood, a pair of the frame members it? and 12am disposed on opposite sides or ends of the loom. The members 12 serve to rotatably support and journal the loom warp beam 14 in a conventional and known manner, this warp beam having at its opposite ends the customary warp beam heads 16.

In my prior patents, Nos. 2,586,116, 2,604,121 and 2,630,141, there are disclosed friction brake assemblies applied to the heads of warp beams to apply a regulated frictional drag or braking action to the warp beam and thus maintain any desired tension upon the warp threads as the latter are let out from the warp beam during the operation of the loom.

The present invention is concerned with a similar type of device, but constitutes important improvements and refinements of the tensioning device to greatly improve the operation of the latter; to enable the latter to be adapted more readily to different types of looms; and to position the latter in a greatly improved location with respect to conventional structure and mounting of a loom.

The friction brake tensioning means disclosed in the accompanying drawings is of the same general character as that set forth in my prior patent, No. 2,630,141. includes an arcuate friction brake, which consists of an inner friction brake lining 20 of any suitable material which, as shown in Figure 4, is attached to a cotton webbing outer band 22 by rivets or in any other suitable manner. A strap 26 of any suitable material is disposed about the exterior surface of the outer band 22, one end of this strap being secured to an end of the inner band 20 and the outer band 22. as by a fastening bracket 28 attached thereto by suitable rivets 30. The inner and outer members 20 and 22 at their outer ends have se- Obviously, by regulating the extent of l The brake actuating means, as shown best in Figure 4, 1

outer end, the actuating lever 34 is provided with a plurality of adjusting notches 42 functioning in a manner which will be later set forth.

An adjustable connecting link in the form of a rod 44 has one end fastened, as by a pivot pin 46, between the pair of lugs 48 carried by the bracket 28, and the other externally threaded end 50 is screw threadedly engaged in a diametrical bore in a retaining pin 52. The rod 44 is received between the bifurcated end portions of end 36 of the lever, and the pin 52 is journaled in the furcations, as will be readily apparent from Figure 4.

By virtue of this arrangement, it will be apparent that moving the lever 34 downwardly about its pivot pin 38 will serve to pull the two adjacent ends of the friction brake bands closer together, thereby causing the brake bands to more tightly embrace and increase their frictional drag upon the beam heads 16. Reverse movement of the lever will, of course, tend to expand the bands and decrease the frictional braking effect upon the heads.

It should be clearly understood that the identical ten sioning friction brake assembly above described is applied to each end of the warp beam to the heads 16 thereof.

The break applying weight, indicated generally by the numeral 54, is operatively connected to the member 26 for applying the tensioning force to the frictional brake assembly whereby the warp beam heads 16 effectively tension the warp threads. For that purpose, the weights 54 are selectively engaged upon a hook member 64, selectively placed in one of the notches 42 to thus apply an adjustable constant weight to the lever 34 to move the same in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig- .4 ures 1 and 4. operatively associated with the above described friction brake assembly is the attachment forming the subject matter of the present invention. As shown especially in Figure 5, the attachment includes a base preferably comprising a metallic block and which is adapted to be removably secured, as by fastening bolts 102, to a vertically disposed mounting bracket 104 which may conveniently comprise an angle iron member, and which mounting bracket is in turn secured by bolting or welding or the like to the above described frame member 12. Detachably secured to a face of the base 100, as by fastening bolts 106, is a plate 108 which cooperates with the base 100 to form a journal bearing in which is journaled the horizontal shaft 110. One end of this shaft is provided with a perpendicular substantially vertical crank arm 112 which at its outer end is provided with a perpendicularly disposed substantially horizontal portion 114. The latter at its outer extremity is provided with an eye portion 116 for a purpose which will be subsequently set forth. A horizontally extending arm 118 is secured to and extends laterally from the upper portion of the base 100, being rigidly attached thereto as by welding or the like 120. At its outer end, the arm 118 has a perpendicular, horizontally extending extremity 122 upon which is rotatably journaled a guide roller 124.

At its other end, the shaft has a relatively shorter crank arm 126 which, as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 4, extends in a direction parallel to that of the arm 114. At its outer extremity, the crank arm 126 is provided with a horizontally extending shaft portion 128 upon which is rotatably journaled a sleeve 130, see Figures 4-6. Rigidly or integrally attached to the sleeve 130 at one extremity of the same is a ratchet gear 132 which is operatively engaged by a ratchet pawl 134 pivotally mounted upon the extremity of the portion 110 as by a fastening nut or bolt assembly 136.

As will be best seen from Figure 4, the opposite end of the web or strap 26 from that attached to the bracket 28 is entrained over the guide roller 124, is wound about the sleeve 130, and has its extremity detachably secured thereto, as by fastening bolts or screws 138 or in any other suitable manner.

An adjustable weight assembly 140 is carried by a rod 142 whose hooked upper extremity 144 is disposed in the eye 116 of the arm 114.

As will be apparent from Figures 5 and 6, the outer end of the sleeve 130 is provided with a shouldered portion 146 for the reception of a wrench or the like whereby the sleeve may be rotated to apply any desired turning movement thereto, and thus adjust the length of the strap or web 26 for different looms, which sleeve is held in rotationally adjusted position and is prevented from reverse rotation by the above mentioned ratchet pawl 134. A collar and set screw arrangement 148 may be provided upon the extremity of the rod portion 128 to prevent removal of the sleeve therefrom.

The ratchet and sleeve construction provides a very simple manner for taking up excessive material in or shortening the web 26 whereby the relative position of the weights 54 and 140 can be adjusted when applying the device to different looms.

It should be noted that the conventional tension device on modern looms is positioned in the fioor space between a pair of looms and in front of the warp beam. This necessitates the dismantling of the tension device before the heavy warp beam can be removed and a newly wound warp beam can be installed. This objectionable feature is overcome in the instant invention wherein the novel tension device is specifically designed for installation at the side of the loom thereby giving free access to the warp beam.

The operation and functioning of the apparatus will now be described, with particular reference to the showing in Figure 4. The tension of the warp ends, caused by the operation of the loom, exerts a force directed towards the left, causing rotation of the warp beam and its heads in a counter-clockwise direction as the warp ends are let off or pulled from the warp beam. This rotation is resisted by the frictional grip of the brake bands 20 upon the heads 16 under the force applied by the weight 54 and its associated linkage. It is obvious that varying the effective force of the Weight 54, either by varying the number of weights upon the rod 64 or by varying the leverage of the weight by selection of the notches 42 or both, that the friction braking force applied by the brake linings to the warp beam heads may be precisely adjusted and consequently, the tension of the warp threads may be accurately controlled.

In normal operation of the loom, the tension device is so adjusted that the weight 54 will just clear the floor or may rest a portion only of its weight upon the floor. Thus, all or a portion of its weight is effective to provide a constant force to the brake band and thereby effect a constant frictional braking action upon the warp beam head.

If, however, the warp ends are for any reason subjected to a. greater tension than that desired, and for which the device has been adjusted, a counter-clockwise rotation of the beam heads, and therefore of the brake bands frictionally clamped thereon will ensue, causing a larger portion of the weight of the member 54 to rest upon the floor, thereby diminishing the force applied by the weight 54 to the brake band assembly until the beam heads slip in the loosened grip of the brake bands thereby relieving the excessive warp thread tension. T he tension device thus automatically prevents excessive warp thread tension which would be liable to break the warp threads.

The weight 140, through its arms 114, 112 and 126 exerts a pull on the web 26 which is opposite to that exerted by the weight 54, and therefore tends to restore the system to the above mentioned normal operating condition. The weight 140 is heavier than the Weight 54 but the latter operates with a greater mechanical advantage. In tension devices where the same amount of tension is applied at all times and in one direction to the warp beam, the latter is very unstable in its operation, tending to oscillate to a considerable extent. The two Weight system, however, applies opposite turning moments to the beam heads tending to stabilize the latter and damp out the customary oscillation of the warp beam under the intermittent high tensioning of the warp ends by the opening and closing of the sheds. By eliminating this oscillation of the warp beam, the chafing of the warp threads by their reciprocatory motion in the heddles is also eliminated, obviating a frequent source of thread breakage as well as drastically reducing wear on the associated loom mechanism.

In conventional warp tension devices, the tension remains on the Warp ends after the loom stops. This causes a stretching of the threads, especially in the modern textile industry with its increasing use of filament yarns which have a high elasticity. This stretching of the warp ends results in many heavy starting marks in the fabric when the loom is restarted after a stoppage for a short period.

The present tension device, however, substantially eliminates this objectionable result by relieving the tension upon the warp ends when the loom is stopped by approximately 75%. Since the portion of the warp threads woven into the fell, to the left of Figure 4, may be regarded as fixed, any stretching of the warp ends must arise from the pull exerted on them by the tendency of the Warp beam to rotate backwards, or clockwise, under the pull of the weight 140. The weight 54, however, due to its greater leverage counterbalances the weight 149 so that the latter has substantially no turning moment on the Warp beam until such time as the weight 54 rests substantially entirely upon the floor. In this arrangement,

6 therefore, tension upon the warp ends is caused solely by the pulling of the ends from the warp beam by the operation of the loom and consequently is not present when the loom is stopped.

The present device eliminates substantially all moving parts of a tensioning mechanism. This obviates the necessity for lubricating and greasing gears, bearings and the like, thereby avoiding a frequent cause of damage to warp ends and woven fabrics. Yet there is produced a tension mechanism which has exceptionally dependable and long lived operation, which can be easily adjusted and applied to difierent conventional looms and is inexpensive to install or replace.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further expla nation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A tensioning mechanism for a loom warp beam comprising a friction brake band adapted to embrace a loom warp beam head, brake actuating means engaging said brake band for varying the frictional gripping force of said band upon a beam head, a warp tension weight, means connecting said warp tension weight to said brake band for exerting pull opposite to that of the warp threads, a flexible element having one end secured to said brake band, said connecting means including a lever pivoted intermediate its ends, said weight being connected to one end of said lever and means connecting the other end of said flexible element to the other end of said lever, a slack take-up means on said other end of said lever for ad ustmg the length of said flexible element.

2. A tensioning mechanism for a loom warp beam comprising a friction brake band adapted to embrace a loom warp beam head, brake actuating means engaging said brake band for varying the frictional gripping force of said band upon a beam head, a Warp tension weight, means connecting said warp tension weight .to said brake band for exerting pull opposite to that of the warp threads, a flexible element having one end secured to said brake band, said connecting means including a lever pivoted intermediate its ends, said weight being connected to one end of said lever and means connecting the other end of said flexible element to the other end of said lever, means for journalling said lever upon the frame of a loom and at one end of the latter but within the outermost limits of the loom frame.

3. An attachment for tensioning the warp beam of a loom, comprising a bracket adapted to be mounted upon a loom frame adjacent a warp beam head, a lever having a central portion journalled in said bracket for oscillation about a horizontal axis, said lever having a pairof arms, one arm being adapted to receive a warp beam tension weight, the other arm being adapted for attachment to a warp beam tensioning member.

4. An attachment for tensioning the warp beam of a loom, comprising a bracket adapted to be mounted upon a loom frame adjacent a warp beam head, a lever having a central portion journal'led in said bracket for oscillation about a horizontal axis, said lever having a pair of arms, one arm being adapted to receive a warp beam tension weight, the other arm being adapted for attachment to a warp beam tensioning member, said warp beam tensioning member being flexible, said bracket having a guide means over which said flexible tensioning member is entrained.

5. An attachment for tensioning the Warp beam of a loom, comprising a bracket adapted to be mounted upon a loom frame adjacent a warp beam head, a lever having a central portion journalled in said bracket for oscillation about a horizontal axis, said lever having a pair of arms, one arm being adapted to receive a warp beam tension weight, the other arm being adapted for attachment to a warp beam tensioning member, said warp beam tensioning member being flexible, said other arm having a sleeve rotatable thereon and adapted to be secured to said flexible tensioning member, means for retaining said sleeve in rotationally adjusted position.

8 References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 7,982 Bigelow Mar. 18, 1851 2,022,577 Taylor Nov. 26, 1935 2,604,121 Taylor July 22, 1952 2,630,141 Taylor Mar. 3, 1953 

